Sunday, August 28, 2016

The National Football League has descended as low into the hypocrisy barrel as it can go if you ask me.

While the internet explodes this morning over Colin Kaepernick's decision to not stand during the National Anthem, I'm more disgusted with the double standard of the NFL, not only in their support for his decision to disrespect the flag, but also with their decision to disallow the Dallas Cowboys to wear stickers showing support for the officers that were murdered in their city in an ambush.

The NFL also released a statement, obtained by NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport: "Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem."

With regard to the Arm in Arm decal the Cowboys wanted to wear on their helmets, the NFL said that every team "must be uniform," and so the decal was disallowed.

One Dallas Morning News sports columnist agreed, saying that there are "other ways to honor them without opening this political door," however I believe that Colin Kaepernick has opened a much bigger political door.

I'd rather focus on the NFL in this debate than Kaepernick because the NFL has long proven itself to be a disreputable and biased organization. They allow criminal behavior from their players, they stage raunchy, anti-police half-time shows at the Super Bowl, and they have consistently shown bias against behavior that goes toward Christian morality and positive role models, only reversing themselves on that last issue when called out about it.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

I just wanted to share these pictures of Spot that his foster shared with me.

Look how beautiful!

Because of a few very generous donors, Spot was tagged by Rocker's Rescue over the weekend and is now able to begin his heartworm treatment. I have received the money from the Go Fund Me drive which I have now forwarded directly to Rocker's Rescue. In addition, he had money from Paws4Life which will also go toward his care.

I'll admit -- that makes me a little nervous, but I have full confidence in the decisions of the veterinarians and know that they are excellent at what they do.

Spot's new foster is teaching him basic commands and spoiling him rotten, which he deserves!

Thank you again for donating to Spot. I will post updates on his care as I receive them. I can't wait to see a healthy, thriving Spot!

Friday, August 19, 2016

UPDATE 2: Spot has been tagged by a local rescue! He is safe! I can't announce the name until they do, but I will as soon as I get the go-ahead. I'm very happy with the outcome and have submitted a withdrawal request for the GoFundMe money which will go directly to the rescue as promised. Anyone wishing to confirm this can check with the rescue once it's been announced. I want everyone to feel their donations have been honestly and wisely accounted for. I will be making up the service fee that GoFundMe and WePay keep so that the rescue will get the entire $600, plus a personal donation of my own. I'm looking forward to seeing spot thrive! Thank you, again.UPDATE 1: The GoFundMe page collected enough money for Spot before midnight last night. Because of this, the shelter tells me he is now safe and has a pending rescue. You saved him with your shares and your donations! Thank you and I will update when he is settled somewhere! But for now, he is safe!See end of this post for Spot with his new foster mom!

Spot is going to die Monday unless we can raise up to $400 for his veterinary care.

I posted about Spot last week and have been sharing him excessively on Facebook and social media. He is at Caddo Animal Control and the Paws4Life group is trying to get a rescue to tag him so that he can go to foster care and get treatment for heartworms, get neutered, and put on some weight.

We need donations. Fast. Before Monday.

I met Spot. He is loving and sweet. He's energetic -- who wouldn't be after being in a kennel all day -- but he is dog friendly and simply stunning. Pictures don't do him justice. When I met him last week he kept nuzzling my leg and hands so I would pet him. His tail never stopped wagging.

Spot has a foster that will keep him and let him get treatment.

All he needs is a rescue.

And donations.

Please help save him.
He deserves a chance to be a family dog, to play outside, to be loved.

Donate to Paws4Life and designate that it is for Spot. There is a blue button on their Facebook page. It is safe.

No amount is too small.

You can also donate on my PayPal link on this page -- it is safe. The button is in the right sidebar.

It must be done this weekend -- Monday, he will be euthanized.

Share this post -- your share might be the one that saves his life. And donate!

I've pledged $100 to him and I'm a broke teacher. Can you match me?

UPDATE: I have set up a GoFundMe site for donations for Spot. It's safe.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

I went to meet a dog yesterday. Not just any dog -- an absolutely beautiful dog who has less than a week to live unless someone helps him.

I have been following the Paws 4 Life page on Facebook which is a group that is helping save animals at the Caddo Parish animal shelter; they have rescued and transported many dogs from Caddo to other states where they can find safe, happy homes.

One dog that has not been so lucky is Spot.

Spot was abandoned by his owners and is a heartworm positive Lab/German Shorthair mix.

He is a stunning dog.

Spot only has a few more days to live. As I write this, he has perhaps until the 19th before he will be euthanized -- he is already on borrowed time. He was on the list for this past Friday, but someone has put up $400 in pledged money for his heartworm treatment.

All he needs is one person to step up and say he can live with them while he receives treatment. That's all.

I had hoped I could do it; that's why I went to meet him.

Steve and I met the rescue volunteer at Caddo Animal Control on Monty Street. We brought Jazz with us because if Jazz and Spot got along this would be a done deal. I was very nervous because I really wanted it to work. Jazz is a very timid dog, even at home where he is very comfortable -- he's a mama's baby and well, he's just timid. We have had him since he was six weeks old and was found abandoned by a dumpster; he was riddled with all kinds of worms and very sick and dehydrated, but he survived and thrived. That was seven years ago.

As we walked to the meet and greet area where Spot was, I saw him standing at the fence watching us - I literally gasped and a tear welled up. He is so beautiful. I mean, really.

We walked into the gated play area and Spot loved Jazz. He was all wiggles and tail wagging. Jazz

was terrified. It was nothing Spot did -- Spot just wanted to play! But Jazz just isn't accustomed to other dogs much and was nervous. We stayed in the play area and we all tried really hard to make this friendship happen, but in the end, we decided we couldn't bring a dog home and put Jazz in a situation that would make him nervous.

Perhaps in time or in a different meeting situation they would have hit it off. But we had no way to know for sure. As much as it broke my heart, we had to leave Spot there.

So look: all he needs is a roof -- someone to take him in. The rescue has the money for his medical treatment. There are no expenses to you. NO EXPENSES. This dog needs a quiet home where he can rest while he is treated. In all likelihood, he will have to stay at the vets office for a few days for treatment for his heartworms. But then he needs a quiet place to come recover.

When his treatment is done, he can easily be adopted out. You don't have to keep him.

He just needs someone to give him a chance. To give him shelter.

If you can help Spot, contact the Paws 4 Life page via Facebook. Message them. Or call Caddo Animal Control at 318-226-6224 and tell them you want to help. They can put you in touch with the right people.

If you can't foster Spot, please share this post on Facebook and with everyone you can -- the more people that see it, the better the likelihood that someone who can help will see it.

This dog has so much potential and will make someone a lifelong loyal friend if only given a chance.

Update: 88 shares in just a few hours! Thank you! Keep it going! #savespot

Donate to the Caddo Parish Monument Legal Defense Fund

I am a Conservative writer and high school English teacher in Shreveport and also work as a free-lance proofreader. My biography of Cammie Henry will be published in 2018. I've been published at The American Thinker, The Shreveport Times, The Bossier Press Tribune and had photographs published in Bayou Bucks magazine, The Forum, and other local publications. I like dogs better than most people.